Magazine type razor



Dec, 27, 1949 6. 0. JONES EIAL MAGAZINE TYPE RAZOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1948 GEGQGE 0006295 JONES,

LEON/D196 C MILLEE,

JNVENTORS.

Dec. 27, 1949 s. o. JONES arm.

MAGAZINE TYPE RAZOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1948 650265 0006406 JGVES, (sou/ms c. M14452. IN VEN TORS.

Patented Dec. 27, 1949 v MAGAZINE TYPE RAZOR George Douglas Jones and Leonidas C. Miller,

Los Angeles, Calil'., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Reelshav Corporation, Los Angeleo, CaliL, a corporation of California Application June 19, 1948, Serial No. 34,014

25 Claims. (01. 30-40) This invention relates to safety razors and is particularly directed toward a novel form employing a sharpened ribbon blade of considerable length which may be unspooled from a magazine to present successive unused portions as desired.

This invention relates to improvements over the device shown in the copending application of George Douglas Jones for Razor, filed July 6, 1948, Serial No. 37,100.

The principal object of this invention i to provide a. new and improved form of shaving razor.

Another object is to provide a novel form of disposable blade magazine.

Another object is to provide a new and improved form of holder for supporting a disposable magazine.

Another object is to provide a holder for a blade magazine, the holder including a head inclined forwardly from a supporting upright handle, and a guard pivotally associated with the head and cooperating therewith to define a magazine receiving pocket.

Another object is to provide a novel form of shaving razor using a ribbon blade, and which is adapted for economical manufacture on a quantity basis.

A further object is to provide a shaving razor utilizing a ribbon blade and constructed in a manner so that the sharpened edge of the blade is kept out of contact with parts of the razor in order to maintain maximum sharpness.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a, preferred embodiment of our invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the lines 3--3 as shown in Figure 1, the blade magazine being unsectioned.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a preferred form of blade magazine and showing a knob for advancing a continuous ribbon blade, whereby an unused portion is presented for shaving.

' Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the magazine.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view on an enlarged scale partly in section of the magazine taken substantially on the lines 6-6 as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the magazine partly in section taken substantially on the lines 1-4 as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the lines 88 as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the magazine and holder taken substantially on the lines 9--9 as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 taken on the lines l0-l 0 as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines ll--Il as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 12 is a sectional detail on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the lines l2-l2 as shown in Figure 5. 7

Referring to the drawings, the holder generally designated l0 includes a head Ii and a guard member l2 secured together by means of a pivotal connection designated l3. A magazine H is received within a pocket l5 defined by the head II and guard l2, and this magazine carries a flexible ribbon blade iii of considerable length. One edge of the blade is sharpened as indicated at H. The head ll inclines forwardly at an acute angle from the vertical and is secured by means of a suitable connection l8 to the vertically extending handle IS.

The magazine i4 is generally rectangular in shape and is relatively thin compared to its length and width.. The lower edges of the rectangle may be rounded as indicated in the drawings. The magazine may include a base 20 and a cover 2| secured by any convenient means such as, for

example, by means of projecting pin elements 22 on the base 20 which extend through apertures 23 in the cover 2| and which are later deformed as indicatedat 24 to prevent disassembly (see Figure 10).

A horizontal slot 25 provided in the base 20 separates the main portion of the base 20 from the horizontal bridge 26. A slot 21 in the cover 2| is aligned with the base slot 25, and a forwardly extending flange 28 on the cover 2! overlies the bridge 26. The ribbon blade 16 extends across the upper-surface 29 of the bridge 26 and under the flange 28. The ribbon blade l6 extends from a supply coil 30 positioned within a recess 3| provided in the base 20. The other end of the blade 16 may be received in a mounting slot 32 provided in a take-up drum or spool 33 positioned within the recess 34. The recess 34 is also formed .in the base 20 and is positioned symmetrically with the recess 3| with respect to 1 the bridge 26.

A noncircular opening 35 is provided in the reel 33, and a cooperating noncircular projection 36 on the knob 31 is carried on the head II and projects through an aperture 38 provided therein. A flange 39 on the knob 31 prevents disassembly with respect to the head I I. The size of the aper- 3 ture 38 is somewhat larger thanthe hub 40. The cylindrical surface 4| of the knob may be roughened or serrated as shown. The reel 33 is provided with outwardly extending'hub portions 62 which are received within the axially aligned openings 63 and 64 provided in the base 20 and cover 2| respectively. It will be recognized that the knob 31 need not be attached to the head II but may comprise a separate and distinct part if desired, and indeed may be shaped to be received within a convenient recess provided on the handle l8. Rotation of the knob 3'! serves to wind the ribbon blade l6 onto the reel 33 and hence cause the blade to move across the bridge 25 and unspool from the reel 39.

Rounded surfaces 42 and 43 are provided on the base 20 and are contacted by the ribbon blade l5 at each end of the bridge 25. Guide flanges 44 and 45. extend along the sides of the curved surfaces 42 and 43 respectively, and these guide flanges are positioned adjacent the sharpened edge ll of the ribbon blade l5. As shown in Figure 4, the guide flanges merge at their lower ends into the end walls 45 of the base 20 and terminate at their upper ends near the intersections of the curved surfaces 42 and 43 with the upper plane surface 29 of the bridge 26. The sharpened edge I! of the blade is kept away from contact with the flanges 44 and 45 in order to maintain the blade at its maximum sharpness and to avoid the possibility of dulling before use.

Means are provided for maintaining the heel edge 41 against the inner surface 48 of the cover 2|, and as shown in the drawings this means includes the slanting of the surfaces of the curved ends 42 and 43 so that the heel end 41 of the blade l6 travels over a shorter arc than the portion of the blade adjacent the sharpened edge II, as is clearly shown in Fig. 11. Thus, tensioning of the ribbon blade l5 between the substantially conically curved portions 42 and 43 causes the blade to move toward the low side and thereby move the heel 41 against the surface 48.

As a further aid in positioning the sharpened edge so that it will not be contacted prior to use during shaving, and in this way to insure its maximum sharpness, the recess'3l is provided with a tapering wall 49 which is larger on the diameter adjacent the cover 2| than on the inner diameter at the bottom of the recess. The angle of inclination of the wall 49 and the inclination of the curved surface 42 have each been exaggerated in Figures 9 and 11 of the drawings for clarity of illustration. The effect of this tapered bore is to cause the individual loops of the coil to expand to the largest diameter and hence move the heel edge 41 of the continuous ribbon blade I5 into contact with the cover 2|.

reel 33, together with a pawl element for engaging the teeth 54. This pawl element 55 may be formed as an integral part of the cover 2| and may be separated by a stamping operation from the remainder of the cover along the radial line 56 and intersecting circumferential line 51. The pawl 55 is deformed inwardly as shown in Figure 12, and its integral connection with the cover 2| provides sufiicient resilience to permit the pawl to deflect outwardly and allow the ratchet teeth 54 to pass by in one direction. Reverse rotation of the reel 33 is prevented. From this description it will be observed that a ratchet and pawl device has been provided for preventing a reverse rotation of the reel 33, which device requires no separate or additional parts and which may be manufactured economically on a quantity basis.

The tendency of the coil loops to expand within the recess 3|, together with the friction of the blade |6 over the curved surface 42, provides.

sufficient frictional resistance to maintain proper tension on the blade as it reaches the bridge 25. The ratchet device 54, 55 prevents unwinding of the blade at the other end of the bridge.

The ribbon blade I6 extends from the coil 30 through a slot 58 leading from the recess 3| to the curved surface 42, the outer end of the slot being defined by the upper edge 59 of the end wall 46. A similar slot 60 .is provided on the other side of the base communicating with the recess 34. Nonmetallic sealing elements 6| may be provided adjacent the slots 58 and '60 in a position to contact the ribbon blade l6. These sealing elements 6| assist in excluding entrance of wfiater or foreign matter into the recesses 3| and 3 Means are provided for maintaining the pivoted guard member in closed position and for urging the magazine l4 into engagement under the lip 56 provided on the head As shown in the drawings, this means includes a cam member 61 pivotally mounted with respect to the handle The sharpened edge I1 is in this way held out of contact with the bottom 50 of the recess 3|. An annular nonmetallic washer 5| may be mounted in the bottom of the recess 3| if desired as a further protection for the sharpened edge l1, and this washer 5| may have a central aperture to receive the centering boss 52 (see Figure 7). The cover may comprise a metal stamping, if desired, and be provided with a pair of annular ridges 53 to secure additional stiffness. Recesses 55 in the head ll afford clearance for the annular ridges 53.

Ratchet means are provided to prevent unspooling of the drum 33 and thereby maintain tension on the ribbon blade l5. As shown in the drawings, this means includes a plurality of ratchet teeth 54 formed on the side face of the I9 and head II by means ofthe pin 68. The nose 59 of the cam is adapted to abut the lower end 10 of the guard i2. A slot II in the guard member |2 receives the pivot pin I3 so that the guard may move in a. direction parallel to the head The shelf 12 on the guard l2 supports the magazine l4 along its lower edge so that upward movement of the guard l2 serves to clamp the magazine I4 between the lip 66 and shelf 12. This action serves to hold the magazine |4 securely in place and further acts to provide additional stiffness for the flange 28 which overlies the ribbon blade l6. Under this clamping force the flange 28 deflects slightly so that the ribbon blade I5 is held tightly on the bridge seat 29. The upper edge of the guard I2 is provided with the usual comb teeth 13. As shown clearly in Figures 9 and 10, the bridge 26 is cut away on its under side to provide an entrance opening 14 leading into communication with the horizontal aligned slots 25, 21 and 15 provided in the base 20, cover 2| and head M respectively.

The cam 51 may be rotated to an inoperative position as shown by the dotted lines in Figure l to permit the guard |2 to be swung to open position as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. The magazine l4 may then be installed by placing its lower edge on the shelf 12 and then swinging the guard I2 toward closed position so that the magazine I4 remains in the pocket l5. As the guard is swung toward closed position the noncircularprojection 36 enters the noncircular opening 35 in the take-up spool or reel 33. The

relatively loose flt of the knob member 31 in the head opening 38 facilitates this operation.

e flange 28 on the magazine cover 2| underlies the lip 66 on the head H. The cam 61 is sw'ung to its operative position so that the nose Cl engages the lower edge 10 of the guard I2 and moves the guard and magazine upwardly to clamp the magazine between the lip 66 and shelf 12. The razor is then ready for use. 7

The inclination of the head H with respect to the handle l9, together with the rectangular flat shape of the head H is particularly advantageous, since it provides the user of the razor with fingertip control. The razor handle 19 extends into the palm of the hand, while the index finger and middle flnger of the user contact the backside of the head II and the flat face of the knob 31. The relatively narrow upper edge of the razor holder l under this fingertip control affords a highly advantageous structure for shaving in places difllcult of access such as under the nose and adjacent a moustache. The forwardly inclined head conforms to the natural angle of the fingers of the hand and enables the razor to be guided with maximum benefit. One of the flngers of the user may rest on the flat side of the knob 31. If desired, a dummy knob may be provided on the back side of the head ii to balance the design and thus provide knobs for both fingers.

When the exposed or active portion of the sharpened edge I! becomes dulled through use, the knob 31 is rotated to bring a fresh portion into position on the bridge 26. A very large number of active lengths are thus provided on the relatively long ribbon It. When the blade It has been completely used up, that is, wound on the take-up reel 33, the holder I0 is opened and the used magazine It withdrawn. A new magazine is then inserted into the pocket It and the device is again ready for use. The new magazine may be handled without using great care since the cutting edge I! is well guarded and shielded against contact, except for the exposed or active length extending along the bridge 26 between the flanges N and 45. If desired, a portion of the blade it which is initially exposed may have its cutting edge I! dulled to further insure against accidental injury when installing the magazine It into the holder l0. When once installed the knob 31 is turned to bring the sharpened portion of the blade into operative position. v

The magazine It may be used without the holder in for shaving if desired, since the flange serves to confine the blade I6 on the bridge surface 29. The blade is not held as rigidly since the lip 65' is not present to contribute to the still.- ening effect, but nevertheless, the magazine may be held between the fingers of the user and a satisfactory shave may be obtained without em ploying a holder or handle.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a safety razor, the combination of ahead having a forwardly extending lip; a disposable magazine member adapted to be removably mounted on the head, said member having a cavity for a ribbon blade coil and provided with a transversely extending and continuous bladecontacting flange; clamping means including a movable element adapted to secure the magazine member in operative position on the head with said flange in engagement under the lip.

2. In a safety razor, the combination of a head having a forwardly extending lip along one edge; a handle adapted to support the head; a magazine member adapted to be removably mounted on the head, said member having a cavity for a ribbon blade coil and provided with a transversely extending and continuous blade-contacting flange; clamping means including a movable element on the handle adapted to move the magazine member in a direction to bring said flange into engagement with said lip.

' 3. In a safety razor, the combination of a head having a forwardly extending lip along one edge; a handle adapted to support the head; a magazine member adapted to be removably mounted on the head, said member having a cavity for a ribbon blade and provided with a transversely extending and continuous blade-contacting flange; clamping means including a movable element on the handle adapted to move the magazine member in a direction to bring said flange into engagement with said lip.

4. In a safety razor, the combination of a hea having a forwardly extending lip along one edge; a guard movably mounted on the head and cooperating therewith to define a pocket; a removable magazine member adapted to be received in the pocket, said member having a cavity for a ribbon blade coil and provided with a transversely extending and continuous blade-contacting flange; clamping means including a movable element adapted to secure the magazine member in operative position in said pocket with, said flange in engagement under the lip.

5. In a safety razor, the combination of a head having a forwardly extending lip along one edge; a handle adapted to support the head; a guard movably mounted on the head and cooperating therewith to define a pocket; a removable magazine member adapted to be received in the pocket, said member having a cavity for a ribbon blade coil and provided with a blade-contacting flange; clamping means for securing the magazine membeer in operative position, said means including a movable element on' the handle adapted to engage the guard to move the magazine member in a direction to bring said flange into engagement under said lip.

6. In a safety razor, the combination of a head having a forwardly extending lip along one edge; a handle adapted to support the head; a magazine member adapted to be removably mounted on the head, said member having a cavity for a ribbon blade coil and provided with a transversely extending and continuous blade-contacting-flange;

a guard movably mounted on the head; clamping means including a movable element on the handle adapted to engage the guard to move the magazine member in a direction to bring said flange into engagement with said lip.

7. In a safety razor, the combination of a head having a forwardly extending lip; a disposable magazine member adapted to be removably mounted on the head, said member having a cavity for a ribbon blade coil and provided with a transversely extending and continuous bladecontacting flange; clamping means including a movable cam element on the handle adapted to secure the magazine member in operative position on the head with said flange in engagement under the lip.

8. In a safety razor, the combination of a head having a forwardly extending lip along its upper 7 edge; a handle adapted to support the head; a guard mounted for limited movement on the head in a direction toward and away from said lip, the guard also being movable relative to the head between an open position and closed position where it cooperates with the head to define a pocket; a disposable magazine member adapted to be received in the pocket and provided with a v ribbon blade; clamping. means including an elehaving a forwardly extending lip; a guard pivotally mounted on the head and adapted for limited sliding movement toward and away from said lip, the guard having a rearwardly projecting shelf, the head and guard cooperating to define a pocket between the shelf and the lip; a disposable magazine member provided with a ribbon blade and adapted to be received in said pocket; and releasable means acting on said guard adapted to clamp the magazine member between the shelf and the lip.

10. In a safety razor, the combination of an upright handle; a holder including a substantially flat head having a forwardly extending lip at its upper edge, the head being secured on the handle and extending forwardly at an acute angle, the holder also including a guard attached to the head; a blade supporting magazine member movably mounted on the head and maintained in position against said lip by said guard, said member being adapted to support a forwardly extending blade under the lip at substantially a right angle with respect to the plane of said head; and releasable clamping means on the handle adapted to engage the guard to maintain the magazine member in operative position.

11. In a safety razor, the combination of a holder including a head and a guard defining a pocket; the head and guard having a pivot connection therebetween for relative pivotal movement; a handle for supporting the head; a blade magazine removably received in said pocket, the magazine having a reel for winding a ribbon blade; a winding knob rotatably mounted on the head; and cooperating elements on the knob and reel whereby the latter may be turned.

12. In a safety razor, the combination of a holder including a head and a guard defining a magazine removably received in said pocket, the

magazine having a reel for winding a ribbon blade; a winding knob rotatably mounted on the head; and a projection on the knob adapted to engage a recess in the reel whereby the latter may be turned.

13. In a safety razor magazine, the combination of a base having a longitudinal bridge element provided with a curved surface at one end thereof, the base having means providing a coil receiving recess to receive a flexible ribbon blade sharpened on one edge and extending from a coil in said recess over the curved surface and across the bridge element, the bridge element having a plane blade-contacting surface, the curved surface having a larger radius of curvature near the sharpened edge of the blade in order that tension on the blade may move it laterally in a direction away from its sharpened edge.

14. A safety razor comprising in combination a base having a longitudinal bridge element and having means providing a coil receiving recess; flange means overlying the bridge element; a lie!- ible sharpened ribbon blade extending from a coil in said recess across the bridge element; and winding means on the base adapted to tension the blade from the other end of the bridge element, the bridge element having a curved end surface of substantially conical shape in order that tension on the blade may move it laterally in a direction away from its sharpened edge.

15. A safety razor comprising in combination a base having a longitudinal bridge element and having means providing a coil receiving recess; a flexible sharpened ribbon blade extending from a coil in said recess across the bridge element, the bridge element having a longitudinal bladecontacting surface merging at each end with curved surfaces each provided with an edge flange, the curved end surfaces being of substantially conical shape in order that tension on the blade may move it laterally in a direction away from the edge flanges.

16. A safety razor magazine adapted to be removably mounted on a holder, comprising in combination: a base having a bridge element; means on the base providing a recess to receive a coil of a sharpened ribbon blade; a reel on the base, the blade being adapted to pass from the coil over the bridge element to the reel; 9. cover for the base cooperating therewith to provide enclosures for said coil and reel and having a flange overlying the bridge element and operative portion of the sharpened blade; the magazine having means whereby the reel may be turned for advancing the sharpened blade across the bridge element from the coil to the reel; and cooperating ratchet means on the cover and reel for preventing reverse movement of the blade, including ratchet teeth on a side face of the reel engageable by a resilient pawl element formed integrally with and cut from the cover.

17. A safety razor magazine adapted to be removably mounted on a holder, comprising in combination: a base having a bridge element; means on the base providing a recess to receive a coil of a sharpened ribbon blade; a reel on the base, the blade being adapted to pass from the coil over the bridge element to the reel; a cover for the base cooperating therewith to provide enclosures for said coil and reel; the magazine having means whereby the reel may be turned for advancing the sharpened blade across the bridge element from the coil to the reel; and cooperating ratchet means on the cover and reel for preventing reverse movement of the blade, including ratchet teeth on a side face of the reel engageable by a resilient pawl element formed integrally with and cut from the cover.

18. In a razor magazine, the combination comprising: means for securing a coil of relatively narrow, thin, flexible ribbon blade sharpened on one edge to provide a continuous shaving blade; means to receive the portions of the shaving blade after use; and means including a fixed backing bridge and a yieldable flange contacting opposite faces of the blade and for supporting a length thereof ready for use, said means providing a blade guiding and confining channel in which said length of the blade is retained and is 101181, tudinally freely movable therein.

19. In a razor magazine, the combination comprising: a base; means on the base to receive a coil of flexible ribbon blade sharpened on one edge to provide a continuous shaving blade: means on the base to receive the portions of the shaving blade after use; a fixed backing bridge on the base; and a separate part on the base forming a yieldable flange, the bridge and flange contacting opposite faces of the blade and for supporting a length thereof ready for use, said bridge and flange providing a blade guiding and confining channel in which said length of the blade is retained and is longitudinally freely movable therein.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination of a cutting blade having one edge sharpened; a blade moving means; a bridge over which the blade is moved; a part having a surface against which the non-sharpened edge of the blade is seated and which acts in conjunction with the bridge to position the blade; and means operably engaging the blade during movement of the blade and operating with the blade to cause the blade movement to maintain the nonsharpened edge of the blade against said surface.

21. In a safety razor, the combination of a flexible ribbon blade sharpened on one edge only; a blade moving means; a bridgeengaging a side face of the blade; a part having a back-up surface upon which the nonsharpened edge of the blade is seated; and a part at one end of the bridge having a surface tilted with respect to the bridge, said tilted surface engaging the said side face of the blade and cooperating with the blade during longitudinal movement thereof to maintain the nonsharpened edge of the blade in engagement with said back-up surface.

22. In a safety razor, the combination of a. flexible ribbon blade sharpened on one edge only; a blade moving means; a bridge engaging a side face of the blade; a part having a back-up surface upon which the nonsharpened edge of the blade is seated; and parts at both ends of the bridge having surfaces tilted with respect'to the bridge, said tilted surfaces engaging the said side face of the blade and cooperating with the blade during longitudinal movement thereof to maintain the nonsharpened edge of the blade in engagement with said back-up surface.

23. In a safety razor, the combination of a bridge engaging a side face of a flexible ribbon blade sharpened on one edge only; a part having a back-up surface upon which the nonsharpened edge of the blade is adapted to seat and a part at one'end of the bridge having a surface tilted with respect to the bridge, said tilted surface being adapted forengagement with the said side face of the blade; and means including a. rotary 1o spool for moving the blade longitudinally along the bridge, the said tilted surface acting during longitudinal movementof the blade to maintain the nonsharpened edge of the blade in contact with said back-up surface.

24. In a safety razor assembly, the combination of a head having a forwardly extending lip along its upper edge; a handle supporting the head; a guard member; pivot means for mounting the guard member on the head, said pivot means permitting limited translatory movement of the guard member toward and away from said lip; a removable magazine member adapted to rest against the guard member, said member havin a cavity for a ribbon blade coil and provided with a blade-contacting flange; and a movable element on the handle adapted to engage the guard member to bring the flange into engagement under said lip.

25. In a safety razor assembly, the combination of a head having a forwardly extending lip along its upper edge; a handle supporting the head; a guard movably mounted on the head; a removable razor magazine adapted to rest on the guard member, said magazine member having a cavity for a ribbon blade coil, the magazine member also having a fixed bridge adapted to contact the underside of the ribbon blade and a flange adapted to contact the other side of the blade; and means including a movable element on the handle adapted to engage the guard to bring the flange into engagement under said lip.

GEORGE DOUGLAS JONES. LEONIDAS C. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

